This paper focuses on 3 and 4 year old children; their interactions with picturebook read alouds, their repeated requests to have favourite books read over and over again, their developing concept of identity and their growing ability to respond to the books. As the children had picturebooks read to and shared with them, they were able to identify a sense of self mirrored in the content of some of the books and these were the ones they chose to read and re-read, making informed choices about their favourites. 
The children identified themselves in the storybook narratives and went on to record their responses in a variety of differing modes some of which led to them becoming real authors as they made their own books to be read, re-read and enjoyed.